Dispensing container



June 6, 1933. R a ETTER.

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed April 11, 1932 r 1 n w n t e H V. n I I w w b ow m mm ,l lfforneyp.

atented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES ROBERT 1B. ETTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA DISPENSING CONTAINER Application filed April 11,

This invention relates to the art of dose or batch measuring dispensers employed in combination with containers of dry materials, and has for a principal object the in- 5 corporation of a measuring receptacle within the container to be filled upon inverting the container and then withdrawn in the filled condition by the removal of the container cover or closure so that a measured quantity of the material is thereby obtained from the container without loss by spillage in attempting to pour the contents into some externally placed receptacle or without contamination of the contents by inserting a spoon or dipper into the contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a very simple and easily produced measuring device which may be easily at tached to and held by the container closure in a secure rigid manner without adding materially to the cost of the container unit. A still further object of the invention is to provide such a combination of measuring cup and closure by which the cup is supported that the cup may readily be filled simply by turning the container upside down and then right side up and that the cup will remain filled and covered over until lifted out with the closure to be emptied. The closure itself serves as the handle or hand grip ping device in emptying the cup so that the cup need never be touched by hand.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description of the invention as illustrated in one form by the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a container embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, a similar elevation showing a modified form of cup;

Fig. 3, a perspective view of the measuring cup and its support detached from the container and closure; and

Fig. 4, a detail in vertical section of a modified form of cup supporting means.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views in the drawing.

It is to be understood that my invention is adapted for use with dry powdered or gran- 1932. Serial No. 604,453.

ulated materials and not with liquids. A container for such materials is here shown in one possible form as a bottle provided with a neck 11 within which a stopper 12 is frictionally received as a closure. I form a measuring cup 13, Fig. 1, to have a conical shape and near the rim I pass a wire 14 diametrically across the cup to pass through the cup wall and extend outwardly from both sides. The outer ends of the wire 14 are bent back upwardly and carried over the top of the cup and twisted together to form a shank 15 extending vertically and centrally above the cup. The cup is held rigidly between the upturned ends of the wire so that the cup may not swing but remains in a fixed position in relation to the wire.

The under side of the stopper 12 is hollowed out to present a concave surface and the shank 15 is forced upwardly into the stopper by a twisting action to have the top of the cup 13 directed toward this concave surface, centrally thereof, and spaced a short distance therebelow. The twisted ends of the wire forming the shank present a screw thread-like surface so that the shank 15 may be screwed into the stopper and held thereby in a substantial manner.

In Figs. 2 and 3, a measuring cup 16 corresponding to the cup 13 is shown to have a cylindrical form. The stopper 17 in Fig. 2 is shown as having a flat under surface above the cup 16. To use either form shown, the stopper with its depending cup is placed in the bottle neck and the bottle is upended to cause the material therein to fall around the cup and against the underside .of the stopper. The dry material will flow into the cup to partly fill it and upon righting the bottle, the material around the cup and between it and the stopper will pass over the open end of the cup to completely fill it and the surplus material drops back down into the container. In some types of'material, the flat bottom of the cup 16 may cause the material to arch over in the bottle neck to prevent the free flowing of the material to against the stopper when the bottle is inverted, and for such material the conical type of cup 13 is preferred. Likewise, the flat underside of the stopper 1'? may also be insufficient to direct the material to under or across the open end of the cup when the bottle is inverted, in which event the concave under surface of the stopper 12 is employed.

Afterthe container has been inverted and turned back right end up, the stopper may be withdrawn to lift out the cup to carry the cup and dump it into the desired receptacle by turning the stopper over on its side, following which the cup is returned to the container by placing the stopper back in place thereon. Preferably the container is originally filled with material to leave a space below the stopper so that the cup may hang therefrom above the material without its having to be forced down into the mate- 'rial when the stopper is seated.

Referring to Fig. -'l, cup 18 is shown with a central post 19 extending upwardly from the bottom with an upper sharpened point. The cup is attached to the stopper 1'? by pressing the sharpened end of the post 19 into the stopper to the desired depth. Preferably, the post is there secured by glue. The post 19 is here shown as being piece separate from the cup but it may be turned out or molded as an integral piece, and of course the outer wall of the cup may assume any shape desired.

hile I have here shown and described my invention in the preferred form, it is obvious that structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations imposed by the following claims.

1 a measuring cup, and means suspending the cup from the closure in a fixed position to have the open side of the cupspaced centrally of and at a short distance below the under side of the closure, said cup having a conical external surface with its apex directed downwardly away from said closure.

A container, a closure for the container,- a measuring cup,,and means suspending the cup from the closure in a fixed position to have the open side of the cup spacedcentrally of and at a short distance below the under side oflthe closure, said closure having a concave under surface above said cup,

said cup having a. conical external surface with its apex directed downwardly away from said closure.

4:. A container, a stopper for the container, a measuring cup, a wire engaging said cup, said wire extending from the cup by free ends, said ends being twisted together to form a screw-like shank, and said shank being forced into said stopper to suspend the cup at a short distance below the stopper.

5. A container, a stopper for the container, a measuring cup, a wire passed diametrically across the open end of the cup to have ends extend outwardly through the cup wall, a shank extending vertically and centrally above the cup, said shank being formed from said wire ends by having the ends bent upwardly and over the cup and twisted together to grip the cup tlierebetween, and said shank being forced into said stopper a distance from its under side to support the cup at a short distance therebelow.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature..

ROBERT B. ETTER. 

